German Conversation · Level 121
45 words
German word
Adel
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈaːdl̩/
Meaning
- masculine nounnobility
Example
Sie gehört zum Adel.
She belongs to the nobility.
More examples
Der Adel verlor im 19. Jahrhundert viel von seinem Einfluss.
In the 19th century, the nobility lost much of its influence.
Core concept
A social tier made up of titled families whose rank passes through generations.
Common phrases
zum Adel gehören
be a member of the nobility
aus dem Adel stammen
be of noble birth
der hohe Adel
the upper nobility
Similar words
Adlige: An individual noble person with a hereditary social rank.
Adelsstand: The social status or class associated with being part of the nobility.
Adelstitel: A formal title granted to a person of noble status.
Definition in German
Gesellschaftliche Gruppe von Personen oder Familien mit erblichen Privilegien, Titeln und einem besonderen sozialen Rang.
Word origin
The noun Adel developed from Old High German adal, meaning 'noble lineage', through Middle High German forms into modern German.
Usage tips
- Adel is usually a collective noun for the social class, while an individual is ein Adliger, eine Adlige, or ein Mitglied des Adels.
Opposites
- Bürgertumbourgeois classnoun
Related words
- Adeligeraristocratnoun
- adeligaristocraticadjective
- Adelsstandnobilitynoun